Very well then. I will admit...that you are worthy adversaries.

And I also apologize...for the suffering you have endured at my hands.

*Huff* *huff* *huff...* We accept your apology, now what?

I'll reveal to you my true power.

I kinda figured that...

Hans, Paris, we're going another round! You ready?

All set!

Liomerg... That's enough...

......

Karl, are you okay?

Yeah... I'm sorry you had to see me that way...

But more importantly...

Thank you, Liomerg...for fighting on my behalf.

I can take it from here. This is my fight.

Please, stand down.

......Understood.

Your wish is my command, Lord Karl. I shall withdraw.

But, if you plan to take these fools to Lord Barion...

...I will show no mercy, not even to you, Lord Karl.

I understand.

I do not wish to stand in the way of anything he or you have planned.

I have faith, that you mean those words.

*Sigh* Sorry, everyone.

I guess this is what happens when I try to look cool and challenge you guys...

Never mind that.

What are you going to do now? You haven't changed your mind about fighting us, have you?

No, I don't think I will.

I have to admit that fighting in this state isn't the best idea.

......

Does that mean you've changed your mind?

You never seemed like the type who would change your mind so easily to me.

Ha ha, that's my Seria.

I'm glad you know me so well.

You really shouldn't say things like that.

It's annoying when people start to get the wrong idea.

So, what are you going to do?

You won't change your mind and you won't fight us. Could you get any more selfish?

Well, about that...there's something I want you all to know...

...about the ritual Barion is currently performing at Mt. Nerga.

Now that you mention it, Liomerg also mentioned something about a ritual.

Karl, please... What kind of ritual is it?

Just what are the demons here trying to do?

......If the ritual is completed, Karna Masta will return to the world of the gods.

Wh-What does that mean?

The gate will open?

Exactly.

Wait, wasn't only Tilith supposed to be able to open it at will?

Yeah, ages ago, excluding accidental openings, the power belonged to Tilith, and Tilith alone.

However, if you fulfill some complicated conditions, it seems a limited sort of gate can be opened.

Now that you mention it, there have been several gate openings recorded through history.

But that said, just because some powerful demons are working on it, doesn't mean it'll be an easy task.

Wait, if Karna Masta returns to the world of the gods, won't that be a problem?

To be honest, I don't know.

Well, then...!

Think about it, though. Karna Masta used to live in the world of the gods.

Then he was exiled here just because he caused trouble.

I doubt the residents of Ishgria were very happy about that, wouldn't you agree?

But say he returns to the world of the gods, and is able to return to full power...

...wouldn't that put the world in greater danger?

That would be exactly the time when we must fight for our freedom.

At any rate, there's no reason the battle needs to take place here, is there?

If Tilith lends us her power...

...she can send us to a world that's able take the damage as a temporary battlefield.

That may be true, but...

And if it comes down to that, I'm sure the demons of this land will lend us a hand.

As the residents of this world know the threat Karna Masta poses more than anyone.

......Karl, do you really believe things will go so smoothly?

......

I've learned a thing or two, fighting all those demons in Ishgria.

If Karna Masta does disappear from this world, the demons won't offer any help.

The only reason they cooperated before was because their world was at risk of destruction.

But no matter what happens in the world of the gods, or in Grand Gaia or Elgaia... You can bet they won't lift a finger to help us.

......

Karl, tell us what you really think. You've been acting strange since we came here.

You say you've chosen your own path, but it sure doesn't seem that way.

Karl, you still haven't completely made up your mind, have you?

Seria...

Maybe since meeting your true father, who turned out to be a demon...

...you've lost sight of what's important to you?

Karl, what do you really want to protect? What is the thing that is most important to you?

Please tell me. And don't just brush me off with fancy words.

Seria...I...

Seria?

I finally told you...exactly how I feel.

It's been bothering me the whole time! Ever since we came here and met you again.

Always feeling like I was just going with the flow, or like I was just being talked at in some one-sided conversation.

Everything was all messed-up...

...to the point where I didn't even know what I wanted to say anymore.

But thanks to Paris, I was able to pull myself together.

What? Thanks to me?

Yeah.

Paris, you've had your own worries, right?

Th-That's true...

So I followed your example, and began to think about what had been bothering me.

"How come I can't tell Karl what I really mean whenever we meet?"

"Do I even know what I really mean?" Things like that.

But now, thanks to you, I was finally able to get it out.

Thanks!

Seria...

Ha ha. You're something else, Seria.

Sorry.

I've said my fair share of high-and-mighty things, but you're right, I was still uncertain.

Not only that, but I figured it was my problem...

...and not worth bothering you guys with, so I held it in and tried to handle it all on my own.

But I was wrong.

Whenever you're troubled, you should speak to those you can rely on.

And I know good people that I can rely on.

You really are a dummy, Karl.

It took you this long to figure out something that simple?

Ha ha, I guess so.

Hans, I apologize.

Even though I had a good friend in you, I just selfishly barreled on ahead.

But, don't worry.

You can bet I'll rely on you whenever I have a problem from now on.

Especially since my problems aren't exactly solved yet.

What? Is that true?!

Of course.

Karl's only just told us about what his real problems were.

So, Paris...you oughta give yourself a break too.

Come hell or high water, we'll be behind you.

Seria, you're so kind.

Okay! With that decided, I'm going with you guys...

...to Mt. Nerga!

I'm gonna solve my problems, by taking them directly to the people they concern!

Yep, that's the Karl we know!

......

Hans, aren't you glad? Looks like you won't be fighting against your friends for a while yet.